We enjoyed our annual Hanami or “flower viewing” picnic recently. This year we went to Hodogaya Park, up the hill from where we live. The weather was perfect for the event. Here are some photos:
??? (haru kaze ni)
?????? (fukidashi warau)
???? (hana mo ga na)
A Spring breeze
Blowing laughter
Flowers, too
Matsuo Basho, Spring, 1668
Yamashita
The following is a piece of fiction that I wrote in 2016. It is based partially on fact and partially on stories I have heard from Filipinos including my wife, Jasmen, who grow up on the island of Negros just west of Cebu Island. Some variations of this piece can be found in my novel, Tides Ebb as Islands Dream.
Stories of Yamashita’s Gold
Growing up in the mountains of Negros, it was common to hear the older folk telling stories about gold that had been buried by the Japanese during the war. There was always the cousin of somebody
Plum Blossoms: First Sign of Spring in Japan
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Like many cultural symbols of Japan, the Japanese plum tree has its roots in China. The trees were introduced from China during the Nara period (710